Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers. All rights belong to its creators.

Part 1: Chapter 3: Infatuation

Natalia got up earlier just to stop by the grocery store for about 10 minutes, and then she'd have to go towards the bus stop. She went inside sending a casual glance toward the cash register. She blinked upon meeting not parisiolite but honey brown eyes. Feliciano gave her a knowing smile.

"Looking for someone?" He asked. Natalia pursed her lips and made her way over to the register.

She didn't say anything else, she just stared at the Italian American, boring her eyes into his, using them to convey what she wanted.

Feliciano let out a giggle. "He's not working the morning shift today. I could take a look at his schedule and see if he's got one coming up."

"Could you?" She asked, eyes widening. Feliciano nodded. She reached over the counter and grabbed the other man's collar. "Do it you bastard!" She grit her teeth.

"I already did it ve~ and I wrote it down on this paper for you." He said beaming at her. Natalia let him go as he produced a slip of paper. She snatched it from his hand, reading the days Tuesday and Wednesday followed by a series of digits which she could only assume were Arthur's phone number. She looked at him and blinked.

"I may have peaked at his application just to be sure."

"May god bless you, you pasta eating motherfucker!" She said leaning in to kiss the man on the cheek.

"Pasta as compensation would be nice."

"I will make you a big bowl. Come over Thursday and I will cook you so much that you will be sick! I'll also tell you how everything went." She said, stare intense.

"I'll be looking forward to it, ve! Ciao bella!"

Natalia gripped the little slip of paper as though it were her life line. She felt warmth blossom in her chest and felt the smallest of smiles tug at the corners of her lips.

She walked to the bus stop and waited. She couldn't wait for her shift to end so she could call Arthur on the phone at home. Just 8 hours and then she'd hear his sweet voice over the phone.

She felt her cheeks warm with blush.

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Natalia could not contain her excitement on the bus ride home. She'd tapped her feet and shook her hands. She felt jittery all over, shaking it out did nothing, so she took a deep breath. Calmly she stepped off the bus, only to feel a slight sense of dread when she was met with two large emerald eyes.

"Hello Natalia, are you ready to go?" Elise asked her. It had slipped her mind completely that she would be taking the shorter woman to Gilbert's Auto Repair.

"Oh yes. I am." She said, giving her a nod.

"And look what I got you!" Elise said, producing a fudge popsicle.

I guess it will not be so bad to put off calling him for another hour.

Natalia took the popsicle from her, "Thank you."

"The rest from the box is at home. I could give them to you when I get off."

"You could just give them to me when you come back to Vladimir's."

She said and the woman had a determined look on her face, "Will do."

Natalia could say that there was something cute about this woman with her soft, high pitched voice and big doe emerald green eyes. But it was in a 'how you feel about bunnies and kitties' sort of way.

Natalia led the way to the auto repair shop. "So where are you from?" Natalia asked Elise.

"I'm from Switzerland. I grew up there. I might move back to Switzerland with my brother if I don't like it here."

Natalia nodded, knowing that this place was also a launching point. Some people were just passing through, waiting to move onto somewhere bigger and better. Natalia pursed her lips, having written Elise off as a drifter, making a note that it was possible she would leave in the near future.

"Did you ever want to go somewhere else? Just to see what it was like?" She asked Natalia.

Natalia shook her head, "No, I like it here. This is my home and I don't want to leave."

"Oh! That's fine too. I just meant travelling. I didn't mean you'd have to stay there forever. But I understand, especially if your family is here. I really miss my big brother, he's so far away now."

"Why did you move out here then?" Natalia asked, it seemed ridiculous to her.

Why is she here if she wants to be back with him? There were probably open positions in Switzerland, why come all the way to America?

They turned the corner past the bookstore.

"This was just for me to discover my own path. I also wanted to prove that I could do something on my own."

Natalia did not understand, "I think that is foolish."

"That is what my family said too, and my big brother. But it was just something that I had to do."

Elise said.

It was a few blocks down and on the adjacent corner. They were now approaching the auto repair shop having been plunged into silence.

"You don't look like you'd know anything about software engineering." Gilbert's ruby red eyes looked Elise over, scrutinizing her small frame. Elise kept a smile on her face but Natalia could tell that there was something off about it. The woman had glanced in her direction before snapping her attention back to Gilbert.

Gilbert was the owner of the auto repair shop, it being handed down from his father and great grandfather before him. His hair was silver white, but not from age. He was an albino, and often exuded confidence to hide the insecurities that came with that. Natalia heard from his brother Ludwig that Gilbert got teased relentlessly as a child. But he was also a product of his time at the age of 43, a little misogynistic, and weary of illegal immigrants, so she felt it did not excuse him from being an asshole.

"Shut up Gilbert." Natalia said, sending the self proclaimed Prussian a glare.

"You have such a pretty face but you never smile. What's up with that? But I guess I shouldn't be surprised." He shrugged. "All Ivan does is smile and he makes that look creepy as hell." Gilbert shifted his gaze back to Elise. "Alright little liebling I'll show you where the dial up is." Gilbert was wearing a jumpsuit covered with oil stains, a little on his face as well.

Elise nodded and followed him. Natalia waited around, and soon out stepped her big brother.

"Ivan." She said, her greeting cold. She had never really gotten over how much her sister and brother got along without her.

He towered over her, always smiling but somehow emitting a frightening aura, at least that's what she'd been told. She always thought Ivan was too soft, he could bully anyone he wanted but no, he wanted to make friends.

"Natalia, I didn't know you'd be here. Did you talk to Kat? She's been asking about you." he looked at her with those innocent violet eyes of his.

Natalia crossed her arms with a pout.

"Why are you so stubborn little sister? We were kids Natalia, and you were a little…"

"You thought I was a freak! I knew what the other kids said but I'd think my own siblings would have my fucking back!"

He paused, "Could you just let it go? What can I do to make it up to you now?"

Natalia had held onto this grudge ever since childhood. She liked her space, she liked keeping her emotional distance from her siblings, and really only kept in contact because of her mother; she didn't need them.

"Nothing. I'll call Kat so she can stop worrying you." She said before turning to leave.

Her mood was officially spoiled, but then she thought about the slip of paper Feliciano gave her. There was a bit of a spring in her step as she walked back to her apartment, mind buzzing at the thought of calling the blond male.

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Natalia sat at her bedside, phone pressed against her ear, listening to the phone ring. Her breathing came out frantic, as her heartbeat pounded in her chest eagerness started creeping in.

And then finally she heard a click.

"Hello? Who is this?" Natalia felt blush warm her cheeks at hearing Arthur's voice. Her throat closed up on her. She let out a shuddering breath as the feeling of panic seeped into her brain. She hadn't thought about what she'd actually say to him.

"Hello? Is this one of those prank phone calls? Because if it is-"

That shocked her right out of it, something about his tone of voice made her a little more alert.

"No!" She said, before biting her lip a bit to get her thoughts together. "We've met a few times before, I'm Natalia. You walked me home last week."

There was a brief pause. "Oh right, I did. Did we happen to exchange numbers?"

"I asked Feliciano for it just so I could thank you for walking me home."

"You already thanked me in person." There was something mischievous about his tone.

"Well, I wanted to make sure because I hadn't seen you. I didn't want to have to go out late at night just to do that."

"If you wanted my phone number, you could have just asked." Directly approach him? Absolutely not, she'd rather get her information through back channels and second hand sources. It was sneakier that way. "But that doesn't mean I would've given it to you." he added.

This bastard.

"Well tough turkeys, I have it now. Are you getting ready to go to work?"

"Why does it matter to you?"

"I was thinking about giving you something."

"Well if it's a gift then, I'll be heading out in about an hour if you must know."

"Great! Goodbye."

With that she hung up the phone.

She'd made him some chocolate potatoes, a type of Russian, no bake, cookie treat. Her mother made them for her and her siblings when they were children. She thought it could be a starting point, everyone likes food.

Packing them up in a little bag, she walked over to the store an hour later. Stepping across the threshold she looked over to see prasiolite eyes. Arthur pursed his lips, eyeing the bag in her hand.

"What is it?"

"Chocolate potatoes." She said and he wrinkled his cute little nose. She wanted to kiss it. She also wanted to kiss his entire face but that was neither here nor there.

"That sounds revolting."

"They are cookies. Not real potatoes dumbass." She said, walking over and holding out the bag to him.

"They're not poisoned are they?" Natalia shook her head.

He grabbed the bag, his fingers lightly brushing over hers as he grabbed them. She felt her fingers tingle, but did not say anything.

He stuck his hand into the little bag, taking out the treat. His gaze was critical as though she was being judged on the food. He took a bite, and she watched him as he chewed it up and swallowed.

She blinked, and so did he before furrowing his eyebrows. "What?"

She continued to stare at him, truthfully she liked looking into his prasiolite green eyes, but at this moment she wanted to know what he thought of the pastry. She saw a light pastel pink blush coloring his cheeks.

He ate the rest of the one he'd bitten off, not meeting her eyes. "I suppose it's good, considering it's something I've never had before and have nothing else to compare it to. But it's not as great as anything I've made."

"You have to make me something then."

"Only to show you that my desert is better."

"I could come by your house?"

He looked at her, gaze skeptical. "You naughty girl. I don't even know you. First my phone number and now my house." He leaned in close to her, nose to nose, "What do you really want from me?"

Natalia felt her face warm with blush, a million thoughts ran through her mind. Yes she did not know him, but she wanted an entire life with him. She wanted to get married, to have children, to have a house, to have two cats, to retire together, to grow old, and hopefully she'd be able to bury him. She wanted all of those things with him, here, right now in this moment. She felt them bubble up in her stomach so much that she felt that those thoughts would burst from her if she didn't force them back down.

"I want you to marry me." She said.

He blinked, leaning back and away from her.

"But you don't even know me. How could you possibly think I'd be a good husband? We could end up driving each other mad." He said with a sneer.

Natalia shrugged, "It is a feeling I have."

"Well I'm going to have to decline the marriage proposal. How about we start light? I'll make you some sweets and then I'll see if I actually like having you around."

He said tearing off a blank receipt and scribbling what she assumed was his address on it.

He handed it to her and she took it with a grateful nod.

She could scream but she swallowed it back down.

"And I suppose you also want me to walk you home?"

"I don't really."

He crossed his arms with a huff. "Fine. I've seen you enough as it is anyway. Just call the store so I won't be worried you got killed or something."

Natalia furrowed her eyebrows. His rapid change of emotions: angry, annoyed, alluring, and arrogant; and that was just in the few moments she'd spent with him now; confused her.

"Ok." She said and left back out of the store.

She made quick on her promise and called the store when she got in.

"I'm not dead." She said upon hearing him pick up.

"That's one less thing off my conscience."

"I will be looking forward to our date. We can discuss when, tomorrow."

"Who said this was a date? I don't even know if I like you. Really, you are quite intrusive and probably one of the most infuriating women I know!" He sounded so appalled, she noticed his voice raised an octave.

"Have a good shift. Goodnight Arthur."

She hung up then.

He was a very strange man but that didn't mean she was going to give up, and with that she went to sleep.

She had Arthur pressed against the wall. Knife to his throat, blue eyes to green. Fear in his eyes, pleading with her. She spared no second thought as she slashed the knife across his throat. Blood spilling down his neck as he coughed blood in her face. She stepped back as the light soon dimmed in his eyes and he fell lifelessly to the floor.

Natalia woke up with a scream, taking in quick shallow breaths.

Why the fuck is this happening now?

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Natalia was now sitting in a chair at the island in Arthur's apartment. He was making some kind of cake for her visit. He said he wanted her to watch his process and to take notes.

Arthur was quite a messy cook, cake batter was in splotches on his face. He'd just put the cake in the oven and wiped his hands.

"Are you intimidated yet?" He said to her, a smirk on his lips.

She reached out quickly to swipe batter from his cheek and proceeded to taste it. It wasn't too sweet but she wondered just what separated this from any other yellow cake.

"No." She said.

With an indigent huff he snatched a rag from its place on the island and wiped his face.

"I finished your book." She said and his eyes widened briefly before his eyebrows furrowed.

"You're actually the first person to tell me that. I asked Tolys and he said he couldn't finish it, and his little student helper said he couldn't either."

Natali shrugged, "They're a bunch of pussies anyway. I don't think you'll get anywhere in this town with scary shit. There's barely any crime."

He seemed to consider that, "Hmm I suppose so."

"Do you have to sell here?"

"I had nowhere else to sell."

"Maybe if you switch genres, maybe science fiction or romance." She said.

"I'll give it some time. It's only been a few weeks, things can change."

Natalia nodded but she wasn't so sure. Maybe they just weren't the right clientele.

He took the cake out when it was done and proceeded to turn it upside down. She was surprised to see pineapples now on top.

"I did not see the pineapples, interesting."

"I thought you'd be intrigued. My mum would make this and my brothers would snatch the pineapples off just to spite me."

"You have siblings?"

"Had." He stressed.

She blinked, unsure if she should ask, so she just let silence linger between them.

"That was years ago. It doesn't bother me now. Accidents happen, people are idiots." He said before meeting her eyes.

Natalia did not press for more information. She could safely assume that his brothers were dead and had been for a while now.

"I'm sorry f-." She started having been programmed through work to say those words.

"Spare me those words. I've heard them so many times before they don't mean anything anymore." He said, pursing his lips before walking over to the sink to wash the bowl, measuring cups and other utensils he'd used. "I take it you have siblings."

Natalia nodded. "A big sister and big brother. Sometimes I wish they were dead."

"Older siblings are the worst." She heard the gushing of the water as he rinsed out the measuring cups.

"Yes exactly. What's worse is that we all live in this stupid town so I have to see their stupid faces."

"You know, you could just move." He said, turning around with the bowl in on hand, scrubbing it out with a sponge in the other.

"Why should I have to leave? Why don't they leave?" Natalia crossed her arms, placing one foot onto the floor from her seat.

" Do you all have some sort of mutual hatred towards one another?" He placed the bowl over to the side to dry. Then he started washing the other utensils, effectively turning away from her.

"No. They want to actually try to get along with me. But I know that's bullshit. I just want to be left alone."

"That's why you should move." He said as a matter of fact, looking back over at her with those prasiolite green eyes of his.

"What do you know anyway? You're not a fucking therapist."

"That's what I get for trying to be helpful. I'm not going to give you any more advice." He furrowed his eyebrows and frowned.

They settled into another uncomfortable silence as he finished up washing the dishes.

He looked oddly serene as he divided the cake into 8 equal pieces. It had been about 30 minutes so he got one out and slid a piece towards her on a plate.

Natalia took the pineapple off of the cake to munch on it separately.

After finishing her slice she said, "This is good. You were right, it was better than what I made."

"Of course it was!" He said, at least the mood lightened a little.

"Have another piece." He said, placing another piece on her plate. "That'll show Marianne, she thinks her cooking is so great." He muttered under his breath.

"Who?" She asked, just swallowing a bite.

"No one. Don't worry about it."

A/N: Thank you for reading! Criticism welcome.

More Character Ages:

(Gilbert) Prussia 43